Just as it says:
China was a mess in OTL through the 19th century.
They were humiliated by a few thousand European troops and a handful of steamships in the Opium Wars and were repeatedly defeated by Indian, Japanese and just about every European power.
Could Russia have moved in with a semi-modern Army and taken large chucks of territory?
I mean total control, not "Spheres of Influence" or "Open Ports".
Thanks.